Knavery \NEY-vuh-ree\ , noun;
1. Unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest dealing; trickery
2. Action or practice characteristic of a knave
3. A knavish act or practice
Knavery dates to the 1520's from knave + -ery. Knave comes from Old English cnafa ("boy, male servant"), which is a common Germanic word that appears in similar forms in German, Dutch, and more. Where came from before that is unknown and it is believed that the original meaning might have been "stick, piece of wood." The meaning "rogue, rascal" is first recorded in the 13th century.
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